Car-coupling.



PATENTED JAN. 20, 1903.

J. TIMMS.

1 CAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 N0 MODEL.

3(a N T01? Altorney WITNESSES No. 718,889. PATBNTED JAN. 20, 1903. I

J. TIMMS.

CAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1902.

1 ENTOR N Z Allomzy Unrrnn 'rarns .a'r'r OFFICE.

JAMES TIMMS, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BUCKEYE MAL- LEABLE IRONAND COUPLER COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

CAR-COUPLING.

EEEGIFIGATKGN formingpart of Letters Patent No. 718,889, dated January20, 1903.

Application filed September 25, 1902. o'erial No. 124,837. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES TIMMS, of Columbus, in the county of Franklinand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinCar-Couplers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Hy invention relates to an improvement in car-couplers, its object beingto provide simple and efficient means for throwing the knuckle into itsopen position.

The invention consists in certain features of construction andcombinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view ofa coupling embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a crosssection with theknuckle locked. Fig. 3 is a cross'section showing knuckle unlocked andbeing thrown open. Fig. 4 is a View of the knuckle and certain operatingparts. Fig. 5 is an elevation showing the lockingdolock and adjustablewedges. Fig. 6 is a view taken at right angles to Fig. 5 and showing theadjustable wedge in section.

A represents a coupling-head; B, a rotary knuckle pivctally mounted inthe head on the pivotpin a. Locking-block O is located wholly within thecoupling-head and is operated by a link 2, connected to its upper end bymeans of the eyes 0 0 which permit of its free lateral movement. Oneside of the lock ing-block is constructed with an undercut ledge orflange D, which is adapted to engage and be supported by an upturned orhookshaped flange or ledge d, formed on the inner side wall of thecoupling-head, when the locking-block is raised to its unlockedposition. Then the locking-block is raised, its upper end is caused totilt laterally, due to the overweighing of one of its sides, and causethe flange D to engage and be supported by the ledge cl. lVhen thelocking-block is thus supported by its lock-set and the knuckle isthrown open, a raised port-ion cl on the tail of the knuckle engages theshoulder 61 on the locking-block and raises the latter suflicientl y todisengage the lock-set and cause it (the locking-block) to engage and besupported by the tailof the knuckle. When the knuckle is rotated to itsclosed and locked position, the locking-block will drop in front of thetail of the knuckle and securely lock it in place.

In the floor of the coupling-head is formed a recess or pocket E, inwhich is placed an adjustable wedge F. This wedge is located beneath theforward end of the tail of the knuckle and is securely protected againstinjury or displacement and is concealed from View by the walls of thecoupling-head and pocket formed therein. The sidefand its rear surfacefare made flat and in conjunction with the side and rear walls of thepocket serve to guide the wedge and retain it against displacement. Oneside of the wedge is constructed with a groove G, which is undercut at gat its upper end. Within this groove is received a pin H, which projectslaterally from the lower end of the projection Ion the lower end of thelocking-block. Pin H is constructed with an enlargement h on its outerend, which is adapted to enter the undercut portion 9 in the upper endof the groove in the wedge-block and retain the latteriu place on thepin.

The operation of the improvement is as follows: When the locking-blockis in its locked position, the wedge-block is supported by the walls ofthe pocket and is entirely separate from and independent of thelocking-block. When it is desired to unlock the knuckle, thelocking-block is raised and tilted laterally and automatically engagesits lock-set, by which it is upheld in its unlocked position. When theknuckle is opened by the separation of the cars, the knuckle willautomatous movements (both vertical and lateral) of the locking-blockthe wedge-block remains seated on the supporting-walls of its pocket andout of engagement with the locking-block. However,when it is desired tomanually throw the knuckle into its open position the locking-block israised above its normal position for unlocking the knuckle, with theresult that the pin H on the lower end of the locking-block will engagethe wedge-block and raise it and cause its Wedge-shaped face J to engagethe lower rear edge K of the knuckle and force the latter into its openposition. This operation is greatly facilitated by reason of the factthat the inclined or wedgeshaped face J inclines downwardly andoutwardly and serves as a wedge to positively move the tail of theknuckle outwardly, and by continuing the upward pull on thelocking-block the knuckle may be quickly rotated to its open position.

By making the wedge-block separate from and independent of thelocking-block it relieves the latter of any undue or unnecessary weighton its lower end and also obviates any obstruction or impediment to thefree vertical and lateral movement and adjustment of the locking-block.

It is evident that many slight changes in the construction of thelocking-block and wedge-block might be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit of my invention. Instead of providing the locking-blockwith a pin to engage in a slot in the wedge-block the latter may beprovided with a pin or stud for engagement in an elongated slot in thelocking-block. Again, the inclined face of the Wedge-block may behardened,0r a steel wearing-block may be inserted therein, or, ifdesired, the wedge-block may be made of hardened steel. In the event thewedge-block should become broken or unduly worn it may be readilyreplaced without renewing or disturbing the locking-block.

The wedge-block instead of being made in the form shown and describedmay be formed with a fiat upper surface and be journaled on a stud orpin, so that when it comes in contact with the rear side of the knucklearm or tail it will tilt and operate as a wedge to force the knuckleoutward. v

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a car-coupler the combination with a coupling-head, a knuckle, anda verticallymovable locking-block, of a wedge-block located under theknuckle-tail within the coupling-head and adapted to be engaged andraised by the locking-block after the latter has been moved to itsunlocked position, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a knuckle, of a vertically-movable locking-blockand wedgeblock, the locking-block being adapted to move and operateseparate from and independent of the wedge-block, substantially as setforth.

3. The combination with a knuckle and locking-block, of a wedge-blocklocated beneath the tail of the knuckle, and a connection between thewedge-block and the locking-block, said connection constructed andadapted to permit a movement of the lockingblock before the wedge-blockis moved, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a coupling-head and a knuckle, of alocking-block and a movable wedge disposed within the coupling-head,said movable wedge located under the tail of the knuckle and having asliding connection with the locking-block, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a knuckle and a vertically and laterally movablelockingblock, of a wedge-block constructed separate from thelocking-block and provided with a sliding connection therewith, and apocket below the tail of the knuckle for supporting and guiding thewedge-block, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

JAMES TIMMS.

Witnesses:

GEO. F. DOVVNING, S. W. FOSTER.

